NPS Form 10-900 (Rev. 8-86)

United States Department of the Interior National Parli Service

NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES REGISTRATION FORM

OMB No. 1024-0018

FEB 01 19S3 NATIONAL REGISTER

1. NAME OF PROPERTY

Historic name: Elkins, Nettie, House

Other name/site number: Site No. 189

2. LOCATION

Street & number: 109 East Alabama

City/town: Wharton

State: TX County: Wharton

Not for publication: N/A

Code: 481 Zip Code: 77488

3. CLASSIFICATION

Ownership of Property: Private

Category of Property: Building

Number of Resources within Property: Contributing Noncontributing

1 0 0 0

_0_ buildings _0_ sites

0 structures 0 objects

0 Total

Number of contributing resources previously listed in the National Register: N/A

Name of related multiple property listing: Historic and Architectural Resources of Wharton, Wharton County, Texas

*USDI/NPS NRHP Registration Form Page ffl

4. STATE/FEDERAL AGENCY CERTIFICATION

As the designated authority under the National Historic Preservation Act of 1986, as amended, I hereby certify that this _x_nomination request for determination of eligibility meets the documentation standards for registering properties in the National Register of Historic Places and meets the procedural and professional requirements set forth in 36 CFR Part 60. In my opinion, the property _x_meets does not meet the National Register criteria.

Seexontinuatioft-sheet.

Signature or certifying official Uate

State Historic Preservation Officer, Texas Histnriral Cnmrnissinn State or Federal agency and bureau

In my opinion, the property meets does not meet the National Register criteria. See continuation sheet.

Signature of commenting or other official Date

State or Federal agency and bureau

5. NATIONAL PARK SERVICE CERTIFICATION

I , hereby certify that this property is:

entered in the National Register See continuation sheet.

determined eligible for the National Register

_ See continuation sheet.

determined not eligible for the National Register

removed from the National Register

other (explain): Signature of the Keeper Date of Action

*USDI/NPS NRHP Registration Form Page #3

6. FUNCTION OR USE

Historic: DOMESTIC: Single Dwelling

Currem: DOMESTIC: Single Dwelling

7. DESCRIPTION

Architectural Classification: OTHER: Pyramid-roof house

Materials: foundation Brick walls Wood roof Asphalt other N/A

Describe presem and historic physical appearance. X See continuation sheet.

8. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE

Certifying official has considered the significance of this property in relation to other properties: locally

Applicable National Register Criteria: C

Criteria Considerations (Exceptions) : N/A

Areas of Significance: Architecture

Period(s) of Significance: ca. 1918

Significam Dates: ca. 1918

Significam Person(s): N/A

Cultural Affiliation: N/A

Architect/Builder: Unknown

State significance of property, and justify criteria, criteria considerations, and areas and periods of significance noted above.

X See cominuation sheet.

NP8Fom.1M0»« OUB Approvm Mo. 101*0018 (8*e)

United States Department of the Interior National Park Service

National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet

o^^f..^^ ..... u .. 7 D^„„ 1 Elkins, Nettie, House Section number Page wharton, wharton county, Texas

Description:

The Nettie Elkins House i s a 1-story frame dwelling facing south on East Alabama Street. Covered i n a pyramidal roof with asphalt shingles, the house rests on brick piers and i s sheathed i n weatherboard siding. A f u l l - w i d t h open porch supported by three evenly-spaced columns dominates the p r i n c i p a l facade. A l l windows are 2/2 wooden, double-hung.

The Nettie Elkins House i s a 1-story frame dwelling facing south on East Alabama Street, several blocks north of the central business d i s t r i c t , i n a neighborhood of houses of similar age. A large pyramidal roof with asphalt shingles covers the building and i s i t s most noteworthy characteristic. This roof s i t s on a square or cube box-frame resting on broad f l o o r j o i s t s supported by brick piers. Wide cornice and plate at the foundation with the v e r t i c a l cornerboards enframe the facades further emphasizing the box-like characteristics of the house. A l l windows are 2/2 wooden, double-hung. A recessed weatherboard s k i r t between the brick piers completes the distinguishing a r c h i t e c t u r a l elements.

The p r i n c i p a l (south) facade i s dominated by a f u l l - w i d t h , 2-bay open porch. I t s hipped roof i s dropped from the main r o o f l i n e and supported by three evenly-spaced tapered box columns. A balustrade of simple v e r t i c a l balusters (maybe not o r i g i n a l ) connects the columns and continue on the southwest corner down several steps. The 2-bay south facade i s denoted by a single wooden door with transom and unusual single s i d e l i g h t to the west i n the f i r s t bay and single window i n the second bay.

A single unpaved drive extends along the eastern edge of the house from the street.

HPSFomll^OOO^ OUB Approvm NO 101*0018

(8*8)

United States Department of the Interior National Park Sen/ice

National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet

Section number _ _ L _ Page _ i '^^v^^f' """"^^ ^ ^ Wharton, Wharton County, Texas

Statement of Significance:

The Elkins House (ca. 1918) is significant as the best extant example of the pyramid-roof house in its most basic form in Wharton. It is eligible under Criterion C in the area of architecture and is associated with the context: Community Development in Wharton, Texas, 1875-1942.

The Elkins House was b u i l t for Mrs. Nettie Elkins a f t e r receiving the undivided land from the heirs of Mrs. D.A. Hobbs. Sanborn Fire Insurance maps indicate that a freune building stood on t h i s s i t e by 1919 leading t o the assumption that the house was b u i l t i n ca. 1918. The 1918 estimated date places the house's construction during a slow period of expansion i n the ci t y ' s development. This may explain i t s use of a t r a d i t i o n a l form probably easily and inexpensively acquired from local builders.

Noted by i t s dominant pyramidal roof, the pyramid-roof house was indicative of modest housing forms that emerged i n the lat e 19th and early 20th centuries i n areas that commonly experience high temperatures for a prolonged period i n the summer. I t s f o l k features (roof, l i g h t frame construction, dominant front porch) are designed to capture the cool temperatures of the southern climate while allowing for a f l e x i b l e i n t e r i o r arrangement of rooms. The form i s common i n Southern states and contributes to the association of Wharton with the Lower South architecture and folkways.

The house retains i t s i n t e g r i t y and i s i n excellent condition.

*USDI/NPS NRHP Registration Form Page #4

9. MAJOR BIBLIOGRAPHICAL REFERENCES See bibliography of context statement. jc_ See continuation sheet.

Previous documentation on file (NPS): N/A _ preliminary determirmtion of individual listing (36 CFR 67) has been requested. _ previously listed in the National Register _ previously determined eligible by the Natiorml Register _ designated a National Historic Landmark _ recorded by Historic American Buildings Survey ft _ recorded by Historic American Engineering Record ff

Primary Location of Additional Data: X State historic preservation office (Texas Historical Commission^ _ Other state agency _ Federal agency _ Local govemmem _ University _ Other - Specify Repository:

10. GEOGRAPHICAL DATA

Acreage of Property: Less than one acre

UTM References: Zone Easting Northing Zone Easting Northing

A 14 781860 3246060 B C D '

See continuation sheet.

Verbal Boundary Description: OTS Addition, Block 30, Lot 13

Boundary Justification: Property includes all of area historically associated with the building.

11. FORM PREPARED BY (assisted by Dwayne Jones, Preservation Planner, THC stafO

Name/Title: Ed Galloway and Ralph Newlan

Organization: Hardy-Heck-Moore Date: July 1989 January 1992

Street & Number: 2112 Rio Grande Telephone: 512-478-8014

Ofy or town; Austin State: TX Z/>; 78705

NPS Form 10-900-a (8-861

United States Department of the Interior National Parle Service

National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet

OMS Approval No. 1024-0018

^/A9?

Section number Page

Wharton MRA TEXAS Wharton County

COVER Substantive Bevie*

1. A b o v i ^ ^ ^ g ^ i g ^ j j o j ^ l ^ ^ ^ ^

2. Banker, W i l l i e , Jr., Houss ,

taterea ia lEfiM

3. Bernstein, Moses, House Ufttt^P^ ^ R t ^

A. Bolton—Outlar House >ut.1.oTtA:'. UcattatFf tatered In Colorado River Br idge

Croom, VJiley J . , House Substatntive Beview

Dannon, F. F . , House

Date L i s t e d

fiubatfiajitlvfi BeffioW , kuerod i n t o *

8. Davidson, Dr . Green, House sl«.tlflnal fisijlfffe*'

9. Davis , Ben and Mary, House vu». rttniT R p g t l f y

10. E l k i n s , N e t t i e , House aub&tant lv© Bevie*

tatered in tSi 1 1 . E l l i o t t , E. Clyde and Mary, House ^ ^ t n n a l Boglai

" Watered In the 12. F i r s t Methodis t Ep iscopa l Church South, Old iJAtlflOal fie^lau

13. G a r r e t t , Henry B . , House iiuD&tbmtxvji B<t>vl6W totered T?.

14. Garrett, John A. and Sophie, House ii)| -tt.QnfiuL HsiStlt*

15. Gifford, George C. and Annie, House latlnnsi E9gi<tt-*

latarofil *a tSsJ 16. Hamilton, Joseph Andrew, House "'.'^r \

17. Harrison, Gerard A., House ^^^^^^^^^^i^^mit^tfSKPX'^Sr^^tt

18. Harrison—Dennis House 1- '<' ' v , - -^" j ^

filtered ia t«au 19. Hawes, Edwin, House

20. Hawes, Edwin, Jr., House

3.A/^/93

V^^A93 3A/f'A9'3 J / / ^ / 9 3

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UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES EVALUATION/RETURN SHEET

REQUESTED ACTION: NOMINATION

PROPERTY E l k i n s , N e t t i e , House NAME:

MULTIPLE Wharton MPS NAME :

STATE & COUNTY: TEXAS, Wharton

DATE RECEIVED: 2/01/93 DATE OF PENDING LIST: 2/16/93 DATE OF 16TH DAY: 3/04/93 DATE OF 45TH DAY: 3/18/93 DATE OF WEEKLY LIST:

REFERENCE NUMBER: 93000114

NOMINATOR: STATE

REASONS FOR REVIEW:

APPEAL: N DATA PROBLEM: N LANDSCAPE: N LESS THAN 50 YEARS: N OTHER: N PDIL: N PERIOD: N PROGRAM UNAPPROVED: N REQUEST: N SAMPLE: N SLR DRAFT: Y NATIONAL: N

COMMENT WAIVER: N

J^CCEPT RETURN REJECT • .DATE

ABSTRACT/SUMMARY COMMENTS:

C A J K A K T o r i , ^ K .AOcH ' k ' * ' ! " ^ ^ t C«M.H«M. < » H C - S T » Y Y * ^ * " * * ^ ' " * " " " ^ i u - b ' l y j ' ^ j

i>- Sr CO M1^ ici^l He.«Jli IM C«JUAIC4-<»^> <J.oit,M. +(t Ui^

RECOM . / C R I T E R I A Ac4e . t^ C

REVIEWER f ^ j j K . UiJAIOrlAM D I S C I P L I N E t4i>r»iL-.*M DATE y ^ y / l ?

DOCUMENTATION see attached comments Y/N see attached SLR Y/N~?

CLASSIFICATION

count resource type

STATE/FEDERAL AGENCY CERTIFICATION

FUNCTION

h i s t o r i c c u r r e n t

DESCRIPTION

. a r c h i t e c t u r a l c l a s s i f i c a t i o n

.materials

. d e s c r i p t i v e t e x t

SIGNIFICANCE

Period Areas of Significance—Check and j u s t i f y below

S p e c i f i c dates B u i l d e r / A r c h i t e c t Statement of Si g n i f i c a n c e ( i n one paragraph)

summary paragraph completeness c l a r i t y a p p l i c a b l e c r i t e r i a j u s t i f i c a t i o n of areas checked r e l a t i n g s i g n i f i c a n c e t o the resource context r e l a t i o n s h i p of i n t e g r i t y t o s i g n i f i c a n c e j u s t i f i c a t i o n of exception other

BIBLIOGRAPHY

GEOGRAPHICAL DATA

^acreage ver b a l boundary d e s c r i p t i o n UTMs boundary j u s t i f i c a t i o n

ACCOMPANYING DOCUMENTATION/PRESENTATION

sketch maps USGS maps photographs p r e s e n t a t i o n

OTHER COMMENTS

Questions concerning t h i s nomination may be d i r e c t e d t o

Phone

Signed Date

Please refer to the map in the

Multiple Property Cover Sheet

for this property

Multiple Property Cover Sheet Reference Number: 64500657